Create manual connections between faces or surfaces


The default mode of the Manual command is to create a connection between a single target face and a single source face. To create a connection between multiple faces, set the Select Multiple option on the command bar.

  1. Choose the Simulation tab→Connectors group→Manual command.

  2. On the Assembly Connector command bar, choose a Glue, No Penetration, Thermal, or Thermal Glue connector type.

    For more information, see Glue and no penetration contact connectors and Thermal connectors.

  3. Select a target face or surface on one occurrence.

    For more information, see Choosing target and source connection regions.

  4. (Optional) In the dynamic input box in the graphics window, type a value for the maximum distance apart the faces can be for connectors to be created between them.

    Tip:

    To specify a minimum search distance for a no penetration contact connector, in addition to the maximum search distance, click the Options button on the Assembly Connector command bar.

  5. Select a source face or surface on a different occurrence, or on the same occurrence, and then right-click or press Enter.

Tip:

  • You can choose the same face or surface to be both the target and the source sides of the connection. An example of when you would do this is when you have a sheet metal part that is bent so that one end comes into contact with the other end, and they are welded together.

  • Use the Select Multiple button to connect multiple faces or surfaces with a single connector. When you use this option, you:

    1. Select all of the target faces or surfaces, and then click Accept to continue.

    2. Select all of the source faces, and then click Accept to complete the selection.

  • The Toggle Target/Source selection button lets you change which face set you select first. The default is to select the target face set first.

  • You can identify the target faces and source faces in glue, no penetration contact, and thermal connections by the assembly connector symbol and by the color coding. To learn more, see Identifying connector target and source faces .

  • If you need to change the faces selected in the target set and the source set, use the Swap Targets And Sources button. This makes the target geometry the source geometry, and the source geometry the target geometry.

    Example:

    You may want to use this option:

    • If you meshed the model before creating connectors, you can see where the mesh is coarse and fine. It is best to pick the face with the finest mesh as the source side, regardless of whether it is a surface or solid face.

    • When mesh sizing has changed which side of a face pair has denser (finer) mesh.

  • Open the Assembly Connector Properties dialog box to specify additional information for glue, no penetration, and thermal connectors.

  • Default value units and precision are defined in the File Properties dialog box, which you can open from the Application button . If you enter a value in units other than the default units, the value is converted automatically to the default unit type.

Create assembly connectors using the Auto command Replace target and source connection regions

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